Julia Quinlan gives keynote speech at hospice conference

Sussex County - The New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization offered its fifth annual statewide conference for hospice volunteers on July 22, featuring Julia Quinlan as the keynote speaker. Quinlan, who is the co-founder and chairman of the governing board of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, spoke to a group of nearly three hundred attendees, relating her experiences as a hospice volunteer and discussing the crucial role each volunteer plays in the care and comfort of terminally ill patients and their families. Aa graduate of New Jersey’s first class of volunteers at Riverside Hospice during the 1970’s, Quinlan spoke firsthand of the volunteer training experience, of the ways in which a hospice volunteer can ease the challenges of hospice patients and their families and of the rewards that accompany service to people during their last stage of life. The conference, which was held at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, and was chaired by Don Pendley, the president of organization, offered a wide variety of topics, including: the journey of healing, volunteering at the “11th hour”, and advance planning, as well as innovative topics such as aromatherapy, pet therapy and reiki - an overview. The day also included a book signing at which Quinlan autographed copies of her recent book, ”My Joy, My Sorrow.” During her 36 years of involvement with hospice, Quinlan has being a national speaker who has contributed to the advance of the hospice philosophy and to the cause of patient rights. “The New Jersey Hospice and Palliative Care Organization offers wonderful support to the thousands of hospice volunteers throughout the state, and this conference was a great example of that support,” she said. “I was privileged to have this opportunity to speak to so many of my peers.” For more information or for hospice services, call 1-800-882-1117.